Cherry tree named &#39;Royal Belle&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of cherry tree. The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Mahaleb’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:
         1. Early blooming with a low winter chilling requirement of approximately 550 hours at or below 45° F.   2. Fruit maturing in the early season.   3. Fruit with attractive red skin color.   4. Regular and productive bearer of large size fruit.   5. Fruit with good flavor and eating quality.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Prunus avium

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Royal Belle’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

1. Field of the Invention

In the field of plant genetics, we conduct an extensive and continuing plant-breeding program including the organization and asexual reproduction of orchard trees, and of which plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, almonds and interspecifics are exemplary. It was against this background of our activities that the present variety of cherry tree was originated and asexually reproduced by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Stanislaus County, Calif.

2. Prior Varieties

Among the existing varieties of cherry trees, which are known to us, and mentioned herein, ‘Royal Lee’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,417), ‘Bing’ Cherry (non-patented), ‘Brooks’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,676) and our proprietary non-patented cherry seedling selections ‘20ZD807’, ‘26MA629’, ‘6GK67’ and ‘21ZA1072’.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The present new variety of cherry tree (Prunus avium) was originated by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif. as a first generation cross between our selected proprietary non-patented cherry seedlings ‘20ZD807’ and ‘26MA629’. The seed parent (20ZD807) cherry (non-patented) originated as a first generation cross between an open pollinated seedling of ‘Bing’ Cherry (non-patented) and ‘Royal Lee’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,417). The pollen parent (26MA629) cherry (non-patented) originated as a first generation cross between our proprietary non-patented cherry seedling selections ‘6GK67’ and ‘21ZA1072’. A large group of these first generation crosses were budded on older trees of ‘Mahaleb’ Rootstock (non-patented) to accelerate earlier fruit production for evaluation. Under close and careful observation the present seedling exhibited desirable fruit and tree characteristics and was selected in 2009 for asexual propagations and commercialization.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

Asexual reproduction of the new and distinct variety of cherry tree was by budding to ‘Mahaleb’ Rootstock (non-patented), as performed by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif., and shows that reproductions run true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and its fruit are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The new and distinct variety of cherry tree is of large size, vigorous, upright growth with a low winter chilling requirement of approximately 550 hours at or below 45° F. The tree is a regular and productive bearer of large size fruit that ripens in the early maturity season. The fruit is further characterized by having an attractive red skin color, good flavor and eating quality. In comparison to its immediate seed parent (20ZD807) cherry (non-patented) the fruit of the new variety ripens approximately 7 days earlier. In comparison to the pollen parent (26MA629) cherry (non-patented) the tree blooms approximately 10 days earlier and the fruit ripens approximately 17 days earlier. In comparison to the commercial variety ‘Brooks’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,676) the fruit of the new variety ripens approximately 20 days earlier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new cherry variety. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, an exterior and sectional view of a single fruit divided in its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked (shipping ripe) from a 6 year old tree and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety of cherry tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 6 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color in accordance with Munsell Book of Color published in 1958.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Large. Pruned to 3.0 to 3.5 meters in height and width             for economical harvesting of fruit, varies with different             cultural practices.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous, tree growth of 1.5 to 2.0 meters in height             the first growing season. Growth rate will vary with types             of soil, fertility and cultural practices.         -   Form.—Upright, usually pruned to vase shape.         -   Branching habit.—Upright. Crotch angle approximately 45°,             increases with heavy crop load.         -   Productivity.—Productive, produces heavy crop annually.             Similar in production to the commercial variety ‘Brooks’             Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,676).         -   Bearer.—Regular, heavy fruit set 4 consecutive years. Set             varies with climatic conditions at bloom time. No alternate             bearing observed.         -   Fertility.—Self-sterile, pollinator required.         -   Density.—Medium dense, usually pruned to vase shape to             increase air movement and sunlight to center of tree to             enhance fruit color and health of fruit spurs.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of             California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter             chilling requirement approximately 550 hours at or below 45°             F. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—Large. Average circumference 53.3 cm at 30.5 cm above             the ground on a 6 year old tree.         -   Stocky.—Medium stocky.         -   Texture.—Medium rough, roughness increases with age.         -   Color.—Varies from 2.5Y 6/2 to 2.5Y 5/2. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average circumference 15.4. cm at 1.2 meters             above the ground.         -   Surface texture.—New growth relatively smooth. Older growth             medium rough, roughness increases with age.         -   Lenticels.—Average number 10 in a 25.8 sq cm section.             Average length 6.2 mm. Average width 2.8 mm. Color varies             from 10YR 6/10 to 10YR 5/8.         -   Color.—New growth varies from 5GY 5/6 to 5GY 5/8. Older             growth varies from 7.5YR 2/2 to 10YR 2/2, varies with age of             growth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Large. Average length 139.2 mm. Average width 57.6 mm.             Form: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Serrate. Thickness: Medium. Surface Texture: Upper surface             relatively smooth, slight indentation over leaf veins,             glabrous. Lower surface relatively smooth except for slight             ridges created by midrib and pinnate venation, glabrous.         -   Petiole.—Average length 38.0 mm. Average width 1.7 mm.             Longitudinally grooved. Color varies from 7.5R 2/4 to 2.5GY             5/6. Surface — glabrous.         -   Glands.—Shape — reniform. Average length 2.6 mm. Average             width 1.5 mm. Number varies from 3 to 5, average number 2.             Located primarily on the upper portion of the petiole and             the base of leaf blade. Color varies from 5R 3/8 to 7.5R             3/8.         -   Stipules.—Average length 12.5 mm. Margin — pectinate. Color             varies from 2.5GY 5/6 to 2.5GY 5/8.         -   Color.—Upper surface varies from 7.5GY 3/4 to 7.5GY 3/6.             Lower surface varies from 5GY 5/4 to 7.5GY 4/4. Midvein             color varies from 10Y 6/8 to 2.5GY 6/6. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Size.—Medium to large. Average length 18.2 mm. Average             diameter 8.7 mm.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to California winters.         -   Form.—Conical, becoming elongated just before opening.         -   Pedicel.—Average length 11.6 mm. Average width 1.4 mm. Color             varies from 5GY 6/8 with 7.5R 3/6.         -   Color.—N 9.5/ (white).         -   Number of buds per spur.—Average number 9, varies from 8 to             11. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—Date of First Bloom Mar. 5, 2012. Date of             petal fall Mar. 15, 2012, varies slightly with climatic             conditions.         -   Size.—Large. Average height 22.4 mm. Average diameter 32.9             mm.         -   Petals.—Size — large. Number — normally 5, alternately             arranged to sepals. Average length 17.1 mm. Average width             13.7 mm. Form — obovate. Margin — sinuate. Color N             9.5/(white). Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous.         -   Sepals.—Size — large. Number — normally 5, alternately             arranged to the petals. Average length 6.7 mm. Average width             4.5 mm. Form — triangular. Margin — entire. Color — upper             surface varies from 5GY 6/6 to 7.5GY 5/6. Lower surface             varies from 5GY 5/6 to 7.5R 3/6. Both upper and lower             surfaces glabrous.         -   Stamens.—Average number per flower 33, varies from 33 to 34.             Average filament length 16.7 mm. Filament color N 9.5/             (white). Anther color varies from 5Y 8/8 to 5Y 8/10.         -   Pollen.—Self-sterile, pollinator required. Color varies from             2.5Y 7/12 to 5Y 7/12.         -   Pistil.—Normally 1 per flower. Average length 16.5 mm.             Stigma height approximately 2.5 mm below anthers. Color             varies from 10Y 7/6 to 2.5GY 7/6. Surface — glabrous.         -   Fragrance.—Moderate aroma.         -   Color.—N 9.5/ (white).         -   Number flowers per flower bud.—Average 4, varies from 1 to             5.         -   Pedicel.—Average length 12.0 mm. Average width 1.4 mm. Color             varies from 2.5GY 5/8 with 7.5R 3/6. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe.         -   Date of first picking.—Apr. 30, 2012.         -   Date of last picking.—May 10, 2012, varies slightly with             climatic conditions.         -   Size.—Large. Average diameter axially 25.5 mm. Average             transversely in suture plane 26.5 mm. Average weight 9.6             grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of             thinning and climatic conditions.         -   Form.—Broadly cordate.         -   Suture.—Nearly smooth, extends from base to apex.         -   Ventral surface.—Nearly smooth.         -   Apex.—Slightly retuse.         -   Base.—Retuse.         -   Stem cavity.—Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane.             Average depth 2.3 mm. Average diameter 4.3 mm. -   Stem:     -   -   Size.—Medium to large. Average length 37.3 mm. Average             diameter 1.6 mm.         -   Color.—Varies from 5GY 5/6 to 7.5GY 5/6. -   Flesh:     -   -   Ripens.—Slightly earlier at the apex.         -   Texture.—Very firm.         -   Fibers.—Few, small, tender.         -   Firmness.—Very firm, comparable to most commercial             varieties.         -   Aroma.—Very slight.         -   Amydgalin.—Undetected.         -   Eating quality.—Good.         -   Flavor.—Good, good balance between acid and sugar.         -   Juice.—Moderate amount, enhances flavor.         -   Brix.—Average Brix 15.2°, varies slightly with amount of             fruit per tree and climatic conditions.         -   Color.—Varies from 2.5Y 9/4 to 5R 3/8. Pit cavity color             varies from 5R 3/6 to 7.5R 2/4. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Bloom.—Wanting.         -   Tendency to crack.—None during dry weather. Very slight             tendency to crack during wet weather, varies with stage of             maturity.         -   Color.—Varies from 7.5R 2/6 to 7.5R 2/8.         -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.         -   Astringency.—Slight to none. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Clingstone.         -   Size.—Medium. Average length 10.1 mm. Average width 9.7 mm.             Average thickness 7.8 mm.         -   Form.—Ovoid.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Surface.—Very slightly pitted throughout. Small ridges run             along each side of the suture line from base to apex.         -   Sides.—Varies from equal to unequal with one side extending             further from the suture plane.         -   Tendency to split.—None.         -   Color.—Varies from 10YR 7/6 to 10YR 6/6 when dry. -   Kernel:     -   -   Size.—Small to medium. Average length 7.7 mm. Average width             5.5 mm. Average depth 4.2 mm.         -   Form.—Ovate.         -   Viability.—Partially viable, incomplete embryo in some             stones.         -   Skin color.—Varies from 5Y 9/4 to 7.5Y 9/4. -   Use:     -   -   Dessert.—Market — local and long distance. -   Keeping quality: Good, held firm in cold storage 2 weeks at 38° to     42° F. without internal breakdown of flesh, shriveling or     appreciable loss of flavor. Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal     flesh bruising or skin scarring during picking, packing and shipping     trials. -   Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: No specific testing     for relative plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been     designed. Under close observation during planting, growing, and     harvesting of fruit, under normal cultural and growing conditions     near Modesto, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance     or susceptibility has been observed. Any variety or selection     observed during indexing of plant characteristics with abnormal     fungus, bacterial, virus or insect susceptibility is destroyed and     eliminated from our breeding program. The present new variety of     cherry tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit herein described may     vary in slight detail due to climate, soil conditions and cultural     practices under which the variety may be grown. The present     description is that of the variety grown under the ecological     conditions prevailing near Modesto, Calif. 

1. A new and distinct variety of cherry tree, substantially as illustrated and described. 